MDAD has been hard at work to ensure that Deaf people in Maryland are not left behind. During the last decade, Maryland has come a long way to recognize American Sign Language as a language. Secondary school students can now study ASL and receive credit for learning another language. Over the past 20 years, technology has developed rapidly, enabling more people than ever before to communicate with each other. We are fortunate to have a strong advocate for the Deaf and hard of hearing in the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) of the State of Maryland, but we must remain ever vigilant to ensure that budgets for programs serving the Deaf are not cut and to keep ODHH a viable department for Marylanders.
As the theme for the conference “Leading the Present into the Future!” shows, our community needs to build upon our recent successes and lead towards a stronger community in Maryland. Our two keynote presenters will reflect on this theme on Friday and Saturday.
During the conference on Friday and Saturday, we will explore Deaf identity and history, celebrate our successes and remember the hardships in our community, learn how technology impacts on and enhances our lives, and discuss the future of the Maryland Deaf community through various workshops and meetings. We will also elect a new team of leaders to lead MDAD for the next two years.
Not to worry, not everything will be serious and educational. We will have some fun activities, too. On Friday night, we will enjoy the Miss Deaf Maryland Ambassador pageant, and have fun celebrating at social events on Friday and Saturday night.
Come visit the exhibitors on Friday and Saturday to learn about what’s new out there and to support many Deaf-friendly businesses. These businesses and non-profit organizations are what keep MDAD strong and preserve the future for all Deaf Marylanders. The exhibit hall will include an area for community presentations, where you can learn more about different topics through a series of short presentations. The exhibit hall and community floor are FREE!
We look forward to seeing you there!
Join the MDAD Board!
Every two years, MDAD elects a new set of officers to lead the organization for the next two years. We need you! Learn more about joining the MDAD board.
